Windows 10: How do I create a system image if Windows has system files in a very large HDD?

I'm trying to create a system image so I can move windows to a new SSD, but Windows has system files in my current 240 GB SSD and in a 4 TB HDD, so it says that the space of the backup drive is not enough. I only have a 1 TB external drive to backup. I don't know what system files are located in the 4 TB HDD, where they are, or how to move them to the 240 GB SSD.

:)

 

Creating a System Image backup - keeps looping

Hi,

Thank you for giving us an opportunity to assist you with the query.

I understand the inconvenience caused, now that you have me with you let me take care of this.

The system image is exactly like the mirrored copy of the Operating System which contains the configuration of the Operating System. When you create backup system image your windows 10 comes back to the same position at when the image was created earlier.

As an initial step, I suggest you to make sure that the services required for backup to run successfully is enabled. Refer to these steps:

• 
  Press Windows + R
  keys, type services.msc and press Enter.
  
• 
  In the services window, locate the services
  File history service and the Volume shadow copy service and check if they are running.
  
• 
  If they are not running, right-click and select
  Start to manually start the service.
  
• 
  Check if you are able to create a backup now.
  

Step 1: I suggest you to follow the steps from the below article created by

Andre Da Costa and check if it helps.

How to: Create a system image in Windows 10

Redirecting

Step 2: If the issue still persists, I suggest you to boot the computer in a clean boot state and then check.

Booting the computer in a clean boot state can reduce software conflicts and help identify the root cause of the issue. You can refer to this article for more information:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Note: After troubleshooting, reset the computer to start as usual. Refer to the step
How to set the computer to start as usual after clean boot troubleshooting under more information.

Hope it helps.

Let us know the status, we are glad to assist you further.

 

Creating a system image

Windows 10 is currently installed, what im doing is im creating a system image on a 1TB external USB HDD, i want to install windows 7 alongside windows 10. i was told that in order to accomplish this feat, i would have to wipe windows 10, install windows
7, and then 10 again. i just was wondering if it is different with system images.

 

Help, cant create windows image

Hello there, @fullinfusion!

It seems like some sort of an OS confusion has happened with your secondary WD Black and I'm sorry to hear about that. *Frown
Maybe re-formatting it would help indeed as the community already mentioned. I'd suggest to take a look at this step-by-step how to partition and format an HDD: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=PYCoid
Keep in mind that this will wipe clean the drive, so you should backup all important data from the drive somewhere else.
I noticed from the screenshots that your HDD appears as Disk 0, this means that it's plugged in the primary SATA port where the SSD (as an OS drive) should be. Actually it is possible that because of this Windows cannot create the image there. Swap the ports of the SSD and the HDD, this might help as well.

Keep me posted. Hope this helped! *Smile
SuperSoph_WD